Liquid-ejection testing method, liquid-ejection testing device, and computer-readable medium

Abstract

A liquid-ejection testing method includes the following steps (A) to (D): (A) a step of making a conductive first detection member and a conductive second detection member opposed, in a non-contact state, to a liquid ejecting nozzle that is to be tested; (B) a step of ejecting a charged liquid from the liquid ejecting nozzle; (C) a step of detecting an induced current generated at each of the first detection member and the second detection member by the liquid that has been ejected from the liquid ejecting nozzle; and (D) a step of judging, on the liquid ejecting nozzle, whether or not ejection of the liquid is being properly performed based on a magnitude of the detected induced current generated at each of the first detection member and the second detection member.

1. A liquid-ejection testing method, comprising:
 making conductive first detection members and conductive second detection members opposed, in a non-contact state, to a liquid ejecting nozzle that is to be tested; 
 ejecting a charged liquid from the liquid ejecting nozzle; 
 acquiring a first peak value from an induced current generated at the first detection members by the liquid that has been ejected from the liquid ejecting nozzle; 
 acquiring a second peak value from an induced current generated at the second detection members by the liquid that has been ejected from the liquid ejecting nozzle; 
 checking whether or not a difference between the first peak value and the second peak value is within a predetermined tolerance range; 
 judging that ejection of the liquid is properly performed for the liquid ejecting nozzle in case that the difference is within a predetermined tolerance range; and 
 judging that ejection of the liquid is not properly performed for the liquid ejecting nozzle in case that the difference is not within the predetermined tolerance range; 
 wherein the first detection members and the second detection members are disposed in a direction that intersects with a direction in which liquid ejecting nozzles are arranged; 
 wherein the first detection members constitute a first comb and the second detection members constitute a second comb; 
 wherein the first comb and the second comb are meshed with each other; 
 wherein one of the first detection members and one of the second detection members are used to judge whether or not ejection of the liquid is properly performed for a certain liquid ejecting nozzle; and 
 wherein the one of the first detection members and another one of the second detection members are used to judge whether or not ejection of the liquid is properly performed for another liquid ejecting nozzle. 
 
   
   
     2. A liquid-ejection testing method according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first detection members and the second detection members is made of a plate-shaped member or a wire material. 
   
   
     3. A liquid-ejection testing method according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein whether or not the liquid has been ejected from the certain liquid ejecting nozzle is judged based on the magnitude of the detected induced current that has been generated at the one of the first detection members and the magnitude of the detected induced current that has been generated at the one of the second detection members. 
 
   
   
     4. A liquid-ejection testing method according to  claim 1 , wherein whether or not an ejection direction of the liquid from the liquid ejecting nozzle is proper is judged based on the magnitude of the detected induced current that has been generated at the one of the first detection members and the magnitude of the detected induced current that has been generated at the one of the second detection members. 
   
   
     5. A liquid-ejection testing method according to  claim 1 , wherein the one of the first detection members and the one of the second detection members are arranged in parallel, to each other. 
   
   
     6. A liquid-ejection testing method according to  claim 5 ,
 wherein the first detection members or second detection members are electrically connected to each other via a common line. 
 
   
   
     7. A liquid-ejection testing method according to  claim 6 ,
 wherein the common line is connected to a detecting section for detecting the magnitude of the induced current generated at the first detection members or second detection members. 
 
   
   
     8. A liquid-ejection testing method according to  claim 6 , wherein the common line is connected to one end portion of each of the first detection members or second detection members. 
   
   
     9. A liquid-ejection testing method according to  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of liquid ejecting nozzles is to be tested. 
   
   
     10. A liquid-ejection testing method according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of first detection members or second detection members are arranged at even intervals. 
   
   
     11. A liquid-ejection testing method according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein at least one of the first detection members and the second detection members is arranged spanning over an opening section provided in a substrate. 
 
   
   
     12. A liquid-ejection testing method according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein a voltage is applied to at least one of the first detection members and the second detection members in order to charge the liquid to be ejected from the liquid ejecting nozzle. 
 
   
   
     13. A liquid-ejection testing method according to  claim 1 , wherein the liquid to be ejected from the certain liquid ejecting nozzle is charged by an electrode section to which a voltage is applied. 
   
   
     14. A liquid-ejection testing method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 changing a relative position between the certain liquid ejecting nozzle, and the one of the first detection members and the one of the second detection members. 
 
   
   
     15. A liquid-ejection testing device, comprising:
 conductive first detection members arranged in a state of non-contact with respect to a liquid ejecting nozzle that is to be tested; 
 conductive second detection members arranged in a state of non-contact with respect to the liquid ejecting nozzle that is to be tested; 
 a first detecting section which acquires a first peak value from an induced current generated at the first detection members by a charged liquid ejected from the liquid ejecting nozzle; 
 a second detecting section which acquires a second peak value from an induced current generated at the second detection members by the charged liquid ejected from the liquid ejecting nozzle; 
 a checking section which checks whether or not a difference between the first peak value and the second peak value is within a predetermined tolerance range; 
 a first judging section which judges that ejection of the liquids is properly performed for the liquid ejecting nozzle in case that the difference is within a predetermined tolerance range; and 
 a second judging section which judges that ejection of the liquid is not properly performed for the liquid ejecting nozzle in case that the difference is not within the predetermined tolerance range; 
 wherein the first detection members and the second detection members are disposed in a direction that intersects with a direction in which liquid ejecting nozzles are arranged; 
 wherein the first detection members constitute a first comb and the second detection members constitute a second comb; 
 wherein the first comb and the second comb are meshed with each other; 
 wherein one of the first detection members and one of the second detection members are used to judge whether or not ejection of the liquid is properly performed for a certain liquid ejecting nozzle; and 
 wherein the one of the first detection members and another one of the second detection members are used to judge whether or not ejection of the liquid is properly performed for another liquid ejecting nozzle. 
 
   
   
     16. A computer-readable medium for causing a liquid-ejection testing device to operate, comprising:
 a code for ejecting a charged liquid from a liquid ejecting nozzle that is to be tested; 
 a code for acquiring a first peak value from an induced current generated by the liquid that has been ejected from the liquid ejecting nozzle at conductive first detection members arranged in a state of non-contact with respect to the liquid ejecting nozzle; 
 a code for acquiring a second peak value from an induced current generated by the liquid that has been ejected from the liquid ejecting nozzle at conductive second detection members arranged in a state of non-contact with respect to the liquid ejecting nozzle; 
 a code for 
 checking whether or not a difference between the first peak value and the second peak value is within a predetermined tolerance range; 
 a code for judging that ejection of the liquid is properly performed for the liquid ejecting nozzle in case that the difference is within a predetermined tolerance range; and 
 a code for judging that ejection of the liquid is not properly performed for the liquid ejecting nozzle in case that the difference is not within the predetermined tolerance range; 
 wherein the first detection members and the second detection members are disposed in a direction that intersects with a direction in which liquid ejecting nozzles are arranged; 
 wherein the first detection members constitute a first comb and the second detection members constitute a second comb; 
 wherein the first comb and the second comb are meshed with each other; 
 wherein one of the first detection members and one of the second detection members are used to judge whether or not ejection of the liquid is properly performed for a certain liquid ejecting nozzle; and 
 wherein the one of the first detection members and another one of the second detection members are used to judge whether or not ejection of the liquid is properly performed for another liquid ejecting nozzle.